Thanks a lek!

So John got snowed out of any birding Tuesday, but got over the passes to Gunnison all right. Wednesday AM EARLY he drove to the lek area of the Gunnison Sage Grouse. A volunteer showed up, god bless them, and a few more cars. John could hear the grouse booming. Heard a coyote. It got a little lighter so he could see a few grouse. Had to change the batteries on his 18 power image stabilized binoculars. The grouse were gone. The volunteer said there had been about 15 out there. Coyotes may have spooked them. John will count them but could possibly come by again later for pictures. He has a lot of laters.

Off to SE Colorado for Arena Dust Tours. A nice B and B, another early rising Thursday, muddy, muddy roads and fog, the Lesser Prairie Chicken lek was pretty far away, light not great, but countable. Phew!

John is now in MO doing laundry at another daughter's house. Tomorrow, Friday, he will drive to Winnie, TX from MO, I will drive from Austin, TX and meet him. Will we get some early migrants at High Island? Cool shore birds at Bolivar? Is John going to help drag for black and yellow rails at Anahuac?

Where was John?

He was in Portal AZ, our favorite town, and there is no cell coverage, at least not for his cheapo phone. There was a snowstorm but he still got some cool birds, the usual hummingbirds, Juniper Titmouse, Mexican Jay and Townsend's Solitaire and others. The trogan will have to wait until John returns.

My sister lives in Gunnison, CO so John hopes to see the Gunnison Sage Grouse at a lek near there EARLY April 4th. He is booked to see the Lesser Prairie Chicken EARLY April 5th at a BandB in SE Colorado, Arena Dust Tours. I had better check the maps to see how far  he has to drive on the 4th. I think this year should do in his rattletrap car. I sure hope so!

Right now, he is heading for Carlsbad Caverns and then our daughter's home in Austin, TX to do laundry. After that he will try AGAIN for the becard. Third time's the charm?